Gun perforator actuator



May 19, 1953 T. c. BANNoN ETAL' GUN PERFORATOR ACTUATOR Patented May 19,1953 GUN PERFORATOR ACTUATOR Thomas C. Bannon, Altadena, and LloydSpencer,

South Pasadena, Calif., assignors of thirtythree and one-third per centto John D. Chesnut, Newport Beach, Calif.

Application January 22, 1948, Serial No. 3,675

13 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to gun perforator actuators; that is, to devicesadapted to be interposed between a gun perforator and its suspensionline. Included in the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a gun perforator actuator which is particularlyadapted to percussion iired gun perforators, and which employs a iiringmeans adapted to transmit to the gun perforator the impact of a godeviltraveling down the suspension line, the actuator and its ring meansbeing so arranged that the gun perforator is disarmed as long as the gunperforator is supported from the suspension line and it further disarmsthe gun perforator unless submerged in a liquid.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this character which incorporates alost motion mechanism so associated with the ring means that the weightof the gun perforator must be removed from the suspension line and themechanism retracted before the gun perforator may be armed.

Third, to provide an apparatus 0f this character which incorporatesinitially retracted, spring backed, wedging slips and controllabletripping mechanism arranged to release the slips for wedging engagementwith a surrounding casing to support the gun perforator from the casingthereby to permit arming of the gun perforator .and its operation bymeans of a godevil.

' Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this ycharacter which incorporatesan arrangement whereby the spring means which urges the slips into theirwedging position is rendered inoperative, upon firing the gunperforator, to facilitate withdrawal. Fifth, to provide an apparatus ofthis character wherein said lost motion mechanism ynot only controls thearming of the gun perforator but also functions as a jar to loosenthegun perforator should it stick in the Well casing.

With the above and otherl objects in view as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1is a reduced elevational view :of our gun perforator actuator shownsuspended from a wireline and indicating fragmentarily a gun perforatorsuspended therefrom.

. Figure 4 is a further enlarged transverse-sec'- tional view through4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Figure is a fragmentary sectional view through 'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view through 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Our gun perforator actuator includes a body member I of tubular formand'internally threaded at its lower -end for attachment to an adaptertting 2. The adapter fitting is, in turn, arranged for connection to theupper end of a gun perforator 3. The gun perforator is arranged so thatit may be mechanically fired by a percussion operated iiring pin 4,shown fragmentarily in Fig. 2, and a detonating means, not shown.Otherwise, the gun perforator may be conventional; however, as will bebrought out hereinafter, it is particularly desirable that the gun havea low weight-per-shot ratio.

The upper end of the body member I is attached to a jar tube 5 in whichis slidably mounted a jar bar 6. The jar bar 6 is secured to asuspension line 'I by suitable clamp means 8. The jar tube is providedwith several longitudinal slots S and its upper end is constricted toform an anvil shoulder IIJ. The jar bar 6 is provided with an externalflange which forms a striking head II.

The jar bar 6 is preferably divided longitudinally into a pair ofcomplementary members joined by bolts I2. These members dene alongitudinal slot in which is mounted and guided a ring plate I3. Theupper extremity :of the firing plate is divided to form tongues Illwhich project above the jar bar for engagement by a godevil I5 adaptedto travel downwardly on the suspension line 1. A shear pin I6 may beprovided to maintain the ring plate in its upper position.

The body member I is provided with upwardly diverging slip channelswhich receive slips I1 of wedge form having external serrations forengagement with a surrounding well casing. The walls of the body memberare provided with longitudinal bores on opposite sides of the slipchannels which receive latching pins I8; The opposite sides of the slipsI1 are provided with grooves I9 terminating at their upper ends inrecesses 20. combination key and latching bans 2| 'ride in the groovesI9. The balls 2| are tted in bores 22 which are intersected by the borescontaining the latching pins I8. The latching pins initially holdtheballs 2l in the recesses 20 to restrain the slips in their loweror'retracted position, but have annular channels which permit the ballsto ride in the channels and permit limited extension of the slips.

The upper extremities of the latching pins I8 project into the jar tube5 and may be engaged by the head II. However, there may -be interposedbetween the head I I and the pins I8 a ring member 23 having upwardly'I.di-verging wire prongs 24 which project .through the slots 9 ofthe jartube. Thus the pins I8 may be actuated by setting the gun perforator onthe bottom of the well, or by drawing upwardly on the suspension lineuntil the wire prongs 24 catch in an internal channel formed by acollarV connecting adjacent lengths of casing. The wire v:prongs aresuinciently weak that they may bend double without excessive force sothat they do not interfere with removal of the gun perforator.

The lower portion of the body I is counterbored to receive a slidableliner 25 having an external flange 25. The base ends of the slipchannels intersect the counterbored .portion of the body member so thatwhen the slips are rin their lower positions theywproject therein .andare engaged by the flange 26. The adapter fitting 2 is provided with afiring ibar .tube 21 projecting upwardly into the body I. Within thetube 2 is a firing bar 28, the upper end of which projects upwardly forengagement by the fir-ing plate I3. Fitted around Lthe tube y2?! is acollar 2B which is held thereon by key balls v30 extending throughopenings in the `tube A2l and restrained by the -ri-ng Jbar 2-8 until.the :firing bar is forced downwardly byaction .of the firing `plate I3.Aspr'ing 3l :is interposed between -the collar 29 and an internal flangeat the -upper vend of the liner 25. The force of ythe spring 3I istransmitted through the `liner .to the slips ITI. A shear pin 28a mayextend rthrough the firing bar.

The adapter kiitting y2 `is 4provided with a central bore continuingfrom the tube :2.1 and adapted to receive the lower end of the ring bar28. A transverse bore of relatively -large diameter eX- tends throughthe 'adapter lfitting. The ends of the transverse `bore `are threaded toreceive cup shaped cylinder .members -32 the .open ends `of which -faceradially .inwardly and receive .pistons 33 which vare Alikewise cupshaped ybut with their closed ends 4at their radially inner side. Theclosed ends .of .the pistons are vprovided with axially directed rims 34which, when the pistons are `in vtheir radially tinner positions, -t .inchannels `35 Iprovided 'in Ythe .-ring bar 28 to prevent downwardmovement thereof. The pistons -are urged inwardly `by springs .36located within the chambers formed by the pistons and cylinders.Suitableseal means vsuch as O lrings are employed to seal thechambers.The space between the pistons is Vexposed Ato submergence pressure -ofthe surrounding liquid, Jif any, fby ymeans of vports 3l. Such pressuretends to force `the pistons outwardly against 'the action of lthesprings 36.

The lowerfend ofthe firingbar 28 is adapted to strike the iiring pin v4.of the gun perforator.

'Operation of -.our gun perforator actuator is as follows:

When the gun perforator eis lowered into lthe Well bore, the .parts arein the position shown in Fig. 2. Before subm'ergence in aliqu-id,the^ri1ns 3d of the pistons .33 prevent 'downward movement ofthe iiring bar '128. Ater 'submergence in a liquid to a depthpredetermined 'by the strength of the springs 353, the rling vbar 28 isreleased or ar-med.

The gun perforator is'lowered. tovthe fbottom of the well to `permit'downward movement of the '4 jar bar E until its weight is applied tothe latching pins I8 thereby releasing the slips i1 which are urgedupwardly by the spring 3I.

Alternatively, the gun perforator may be lowered to a, poin-t below itsfiring level, then drawn upwardly until the wire prongs 24 catch in thechannel :provided in the v.first joint encountered. The wire prongs aredesigned 'to have sufhcient strength that the latching pins i8 may bedepressed, but are weak enough to offer no appreciable interference withfurther upward movement of the 'gun perforator.

After tripping the slips, the gun perforator is raised to its dri-ng'level with the slips riding on the casing wall. When the firing levelis reached, the suspension line is lowered causing the slips to wedgeagainst the casing and support the gun perorator. The `suspension lineis lowered until the ja-r bar B is in its lower position shown in Fig.3. It is, of course, contemplated that the hoisting .equipment for 'thesuspension line will be provided with suitable Weight indicating andmeasuring means .so 'that -the desired movement of vthe vjar bar l may"be accomplished.

After the line is lowered, the godevil f5 Ais dropped, and on strikingthe firing plate 13 the blow is 'transmitted to the firing bar 28 4andfrom the firing bar vto .the firing pin 4 which engages the gunperforator detonator. Firingmoveinent of the iiring bar '28 releases thecollar 29 which, in turn, releases the spring 3l. When the 'spring 2H.is released, the slips are free to retract when the gun perforator israised; however, retraction of 'the slips is not essential to withdrawalof the gun perforator.

lt will 'be observed that the gun per'forator cannot be fired by thegodevil unless two conditions Vare satisned; namely:

l. The gun perorator be submerged in a liquid to a depth sullicient torelease the ring bar.

2. The ,jar bar be in its lower position, a position which cannot beobtained unless'the gun perforator is resting on the .bottom of thewellbore or suspended from the well casing.

Thus, .the gun perforator cannot Vbe fired while being raised or loweredin the well casing, even though the godevil should be accidentallydropped.

It should be pointed out that the weight of the suspension line has animportant .bearing on the feasibility of employing a `godevil to firethe gun perforator. That is, the greater the weight ofthe suspensionline, the heavier the godevil must be. Well bores are seldom straight,the casings curve in arcs of greater or .lesser radius so Vthat thegodevil weight required to overcome the ,pressure of the .suspensionline against the casing may be expressed by .the following formula:

where:

F=tension on .suspension line r=radius of curvature of .casingL=distance between godevil .and point of tangency between the suspensionandcasing f=coeiicient of friction It will be observed `that with theother factors 'remaining :constant the required -godevil Weight is inproportion to the tension on 'the suspension line. Thus, if a singlestrand line (No. 1.2 gage) weighing approximately 300 'pounds .per10,000 :feet is employed, the godevil need Weigh only a tenth as much asa godevil employed on a conventional cable (1% in. dia.) weighing 3,000pounds per 10,000 feet. This means that a twenty pound godevil issuiiicient for a single strand wire line, whereas a 200 pound godevil isrequired for a conventional cable, omitting in each case the effect ofgun perforator weight. It will be seen that suspension of the gunperforator by the well casing while the godevil travels down the linereduces materially the required weight of the godevil as otherwise suchweight is added to the factor F above.

Having thus described certain embodiments of our invention, we do notdesire to be limited thereto, but intend to claim all novelty inherentin the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travelon said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuatoradapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gunperforator, and comprising: a body structure; a lost motion jarstructure connecting said body structure and said suspension line, andmovable between an axially extended and a retracted position; slipsmounted in said body structure and movable between a radially extendedand a retracted position; means initially restraining said slips; meansfor releasing said slips for engagement with a surrounding casing toSupport said body structure; and impact transmitting means incorporatedin said jar and body structures, and movable with said jar structurebetween an extended disarmed position to prevent operation of saidfiring pin, when said body structure is suspended from said line, `and aretracted armed position, when said body structure is supported by saidslips, for transmitting the impact of a godevil traveling down saidsuspension line to the firing pin of said gun perforator.

2. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travelon said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuatoradapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gunperforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected withsaid suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position whensupporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position whenfree from the weight thereof; a iiring device incorporating said jarstructure having a disarmed position when said jar is extended and anarmed position when said jar structure is retracted to transmit animpact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the firingpin of said gun perforator; and means including wedging slips operableto transfer support of said gun perforator from said suspension line toa surrounding well casing, thereby to permit retraction of said jarstructure.

3. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travelon said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuatoradapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gunperforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected withsaid suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position whensupporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position whenfree from the weight thereof; a ring device incorporating said jarstructure having :a disarmed position when said jar is extended and anarmed position when said jar structure is 6. retracted to transmit animpact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the ringpin of said gun perforator; wedging slips operable to transfer supportof said gun perforator from said suspension line to a surrounding wellcasing thereby to permit retraction of said jar structure; initiallyrestrained yieldable means urging said slips into engagement with saidwell casing; means for releasing said yieldable means; and meansoperable by said iiring device to render said yieldable meansinoperative thereby to permit retraction of said slips.

4. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travelon said line, and `a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuatoradapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gunperforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected withsaid suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position whensupporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position whenfree from the Weight thereof; a firing device incorporating said jarstructure and movable from a disarmed to an armed position when said jarstructure is retracted to transmit an impact from a godevil travelingdown said suspension line t0 the ring pin'of said gun perforator;wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gun perforator fromsaid suspension line to a surrounding well casing thereby to permitretraction of said jar structure; initially restrained yieldable` meansurging said slips into engagement with said well casing; and meansengageable by said jar structure when said gun perforator is resting atthe bottom of a well bore to release said yieldable means, said wedgingslips being when released arranged to permit upward movement of the gunperforator in the well casing` 5. The combination with a suspensionline, a godevil, adapted to travel on said line, and a gun perforatorhaving a ring pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between saidsuspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a lost motionjar structure connected with said suspension line and adapted to occupyan extended position when supporting said gun perforator and to move toa retracted position when free from the weight thereof; a ring deviceincorporating said jar structure and movable from a disarmed to an armedposition when said jar structure is retracted to transmit an impact froma godevil traveling down said suspension line to the ring pin of saidgun. perforator; wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gunperforator from said suspension line to a surrounding well casingthereby to permit retraction of said jar structure; spring means urgingsaid slips into engagement with said well casing; latch meansrestraining said spring means; and a device operatively engageable'withthe interior of the joints between well casing sections when said gunperforator is raised to actuate said latch means and release said springmeans, said wedging slips being arranged, when released, to permitupward movement of the gun perforator in the well casing.

6. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a jar element adapted forconnection to a suspension line; a coacting jar element adapted forconnection with a gun perforator, said jar elements arranged for limitedrelative movement between `an extended position when supporting said gunperforator and a retracted position when relieved of the weight of saidgun perforater; a firing device associated -with said jar elements andpositioned Vfor impact engagement by a godevil guided l*down saidsuspension line., said ring device having an .extended disarxnedposition when said ifar elements Iare extended and a--retracted `armedposition Whenlsaidjar elements are retracted to transmit the impact -ofsaid godevil to :said gun pertorator thereby to the same; fand sli-pmeans engagea-ble `with a surrounding casing tofsupport said gunperforator from Aa surrounding casing whereby said jar elements may beretracted, thereby to permit firing of .said g-un perforator bysaidgodevil.

7; .in .an apparatus of operating gun perforators, the combination of: apercussion responsive instrumentality disposed vbetween :a .gunperforator and a suspension line, 'saidinstrumentality having `anextended disarmed position when 'said gun perforator is suspended'frornsaid line., and moya-le to a retracted armed position when the weight ofsaid gun perforator is relieved therefrom; means operable subsequent tolowering said gun perforator into 'a well casing toY transfer the weightof said gun perforator y)from said suspension line to the well casing,thereby to permit retraction fof said 'instrumental-ity to its lminedposition;` means operable through said instrumentality, when lin itsarmed position, Afor fir-ing said gun ,perf-crater and a device normallymaintaining :said instrumentality disarmed irrespective -of whether thegun .perforator .is 'supported Yby saidysuspensionline orsaid casing,said device being Iresponsive to submergence pressure lof a surroundingliquid to permit arming of said instrumentality.

8. A means for securing a gun perforator in a Well casing, comprising:`a tubular body member adapted to be connected with a gun periorator andhaving in its walls slip channels; slips movable in said channels andhaving extremities projecting into the bore of said tubular body member;spring means within said body member urging said Islips into extendedpositions to wedge said body member and lgun perforator against downwardmovement ina surrounding well casing; latch means restraining saidslips; and a device including elements engageable with the interior of a`collar connecting :adjacent wellr casing sections for actuating saidlatch means to release said slips, said elements and said slips beingarranged to permit upward movement vof said gun perforator in said wellcasing.

`9. A gun perforator actuator comprising: a tubular body member adaptedto be connected with a :gun perforator and yhaving in its walls slipchannels; slips movable in said channels and having extremitiesprojecting into the boreof :said tubular body member; spring meanswithin said body `member urging said slips into extended .positions towedge said body member and fgun perforator against downward movement ina surrounding well casing; latch means restraining said slips; a meansfor connecting said body member and gun perforator to a suspension line;a percussion firing means for said gun per-forator, said ring meanshaving yan eX- tended disarmed position when said gun per-forator issupported by said suspension line and movable to a retracted armedposition when said gun periorator is supported by a surrounding casing;and means -foractuating said latch means to release said .slips tosupport said gun perforator from said casing.

1:0. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a tubular .body memberadapted to be connected with a gun perforator and 'having in its wallsslip channels; slips movable in said channels and having extremities.projecting into the bore of. said tubular body member; spring meanswithin said body member urging said slips into extended positions to'wedge .said vbody member and gun p-erforator against downward movementin a surrounding well casing; latch means restraining saidslips; a. lostmotion jar structure ior suspending said gun perforator from asuspension llne; a percussion firing device for said gun perioratorincorporated in said jar structure, said ring device having a disarmed,position when said ygun perorator is suspended from said line, andmovable to an armed position when said gun perforator is supported froma surrounding casingz; tand `means for actuating said latch meansthereby to support :said gun perforator from said casing.

l1. A gun perforator actuator as set forth in claim 10 wherein: saidlatch actuating means is incorporated in said jar ystructure and isoperable when the gun perforator is setfagainst the bottom of a Wellbore.

'12. ,A gun perforator actuator as set forth in claim 1:0 wherein: saidlatch actuating means includes yieldable fingers adapted to catch in thechannels formed ybetween adjacent well casing sections, said ngers andsaid slips permitting upward movement of the gun perforator in said Wellcasing.

13. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a tubular body member adapted.to be connected with a gun iperiorator and having in 'its walls slipchannels; lslips-movable in said channels and having extremitiesprojecting into vthe bore Iof said tubular body member; spring meanswithin said body member urging said slips into extended positions toWedge :said body member and gun perforator against downward movement ina surrounding Well casing; latch means restraining said slips; ,a Ilostmotion jarV structure for suspending said fgun .perforator from asuspension line; :a :percussion firing ldevice for said gun perforatorincorporated .in lsaid jar structure, said firing device having adisarmed posit-ion when said gun perforator is suspended from said line,and movable -to :an armed position when said gun periorator is supportedfrom a surrounding casing; 4means for actuating said latch means therebyto support said gun'perforator from said casing.; and A`means responsiveto operation of said ring device to remove the force of said springmeans from said 'slips thereby to facilitate withdrawal' of said gunperforator.

THOMAS 2C. BANNON.

LLOYD SPENCER.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 904,657 Stephens Nov. 24, 1908 `1,080,313 Yungling Dec.. 2,1913 .1,543,903 Cameron June 30, 1925 '2,203,265 Kniss June 4, 19402,243,099 Johnson May 27, 1941 2,330,509 McCullough Sept.'28, 1943

